Country: Denmark
Type: set dance
Formation: 4 couple quadrille. Couples 1 and 2 respectively have backs to and face music. Couples 3 and 4 stand respectively to R of couples 1 and 2.
Steps: sideløbstrin (slip-steps),
chassé (change-step)
Music: any reel or jig (6/8-time) with AABBCCDD or AABB structure (ie a 64-bar structure)
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-8 | (a) | Circle CW: All couples form closed circle, and circle CW, 16 slip-steps or 8 chassé steps. |
| 1-8 | Circle CCW: All couples circle CCW, 16 slip-steps or 8 chassé steps. | |
| 9-16 | (b) | Head couples figure 8's: M1 and M2 dance in front of corner [W to their L], CW around M3 and M4 respectively, behind corner W and return to place.
Meanwhile, W1 and W2 dance in front of corner [M to their R], CCW around W3 and W4 respectively, behind corner and return to place. 8 chassé steps. |
| 9-16 | ] | Side couples figure 8's: M3 and M4 dance in front of corner [W to their L], CW around M2 and M1 respectively, behind corner and return to place.
Meanwhile, W3 and W4 dance in front of corner [M to their R], CCW around W2 and W1 respectively, behind corner and return to place. 8 chassé steps. |
| 17-24 | (c) | W figure 8's: All W dance CW around partner, CCW around corner, and return to place. 8 chassé steps. |
| 17-24 | M figure 8's: All M dance CW around partner, CCW around corner, and return to place. 8 chassé steps. | |
| 25-32 | (d) | Chaine double: All couples dance R-hand chain to next oncoming dancer (25-26), 2 chassé steps. Take courtesy hold and turn CCW on the spot, (27-28), 2 chassé steps. Repeat (29-32), 2 chassé steps, finishing in opposite place. |
| 25-32 | All couples dance repeat part (d), finishing in original place. 8 chassé steps. |
Provenance:
From a musician's notebook found in Sønderby, Denmark. The book belonged to Søren Christian Rønning (possibly 1743-1809)
and can be dated to about 1772, as one of the covers has this date embossed.
It is not known how the book ended up in Sønderby. The book contains 79 'Contres dançes angloises', 29 'Contres dançes françoises',
and 6 cotillons,
with recorded choreography in the form of diagrams and/or descriptive text as well as sheet music.
[Translator's note: although no information about steps is given, extant sheet music for cottilons is mainly 2/4 or 4/4-time, wherefore the translator suggests the dance
be done with chassé steps and slip-steps, as appropriate.]
Printed source: V.D.W. Sønderbybogen ms. 1772. pp. 99-100 [of the pdf file]
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2020-10-09, rev. 2021-09-09.
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